Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/12/30

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Subject: [Leica] M6 TTL 0.85 - impressions and diopter correction
From: "Johannes A Dykstra" <hans.mieke@bigpond.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 1999 12:33:17 +1100

G'Day LUG/LEG folks

I've got my M6 TTL 0.85 and am now wondering why I hesitated so long.

I was concerned about the restricted field of view, with wider lenses.
However, the magnification is very easy to get used to and its noticeably
easier to focus.

I wear glasses when I need to see what's happening.  I'm -2.25 (short
sighted) in both eyes.  Wearing the glasses is OK with the 0.72 viewfinder,
although I can't quite see all of the 35 mm framelines with that viewfinder.
Need to move around a little to check the corners.

So, with some help from Dick Hemingway who confirmed that the 0.85
viewfinder features an inherent -0.5 correction, I realised I could buy a -2
correction lens, to give me a total correction of -2.5.  More than I need
but I can focus my eyes in a little, to work quite comfortably with the
corrected viewfinder.

The correction lens was horribly expensive, but it is fantastic to bring the
M6 up to my naked and blurry eye, to look through the viewfinder and SEE
PERFECTLY.  A bit like when I picked up my first pair of prescription
glasses.

Yes it will be inconvenient if I'm using the camera at a time when I also
want to be wearing my glasses for general vision.  But I'll be using the
0.85 mostly with a 90mm lens for production line portraits of junior soccer
players.  I'll leave my glasses off for those sessions.

Not wearing glasses seems to offer other advantages.  Less annoying side
light, and the body is better stabilised by pressing against my eyebrow
rather than against my spectacles.  And of course the improved field of
view.

The larger shutter speed dial looks yukky IMO, but works well.  By turning
the 'right' way, it makes the camera quicker to use.  The body is higher,
and its appearance will take getting used to, but there's a little more to
hang on to.

All in all, I'm very happy with it.  I'm tempted to get an SF20 flash, for a
little fill flash from time to time.  It looks like a good fit. Anyone happy
(or otherwise) with theirs?  How well does it avoid red eyes in dim ambient
light?

Regards

Rick Dykstra